Hi there!
My name is Valerie, looking forward to meeting you! I am currently traveling through East and South East Asia with my boyfriend-of-six-years Baha (you'll find him in my photos). It's always been a dream of mine to live nomadic, and I am so joyful and grateful I am living that now!😁🙏 It'd be lovely to meet people living in the places we temporarily visit through Couchsurfing, to get a better feeling of local life. It has always made for great memories!

In short about me: I was born and raised in the Netherlands, and moved to the beautiful and vibrant Amsterdam to study and then work. Lived there for the past 8 years and really loved it! Many of my friends there are international, which has added so much to my life that I can't really put into words. I studied two bachelors in Psychology and Communication Science and did a master in Environment and Resource Management specialised in biodiversity and ecosystems. The past two years I worked for a tremendous non-profit organisation focusing on illegal deforestation in South America. Absolutely loved it, but quit this November to travel and see more of the world! On the side I work as a writer and interviewer on a conservation project focused on endangered and rare horse breeds (the Equine Legacy Project), together with a photographer and videographer. This November we published a gorgeous coffee table book and seven part documentary series. Traveled to India, Puerto Rico, Kentucky, England, Scotland, Czech Republic, and Portugal for this project, which was só much work but an absolute blast. Can tell you all about if you're interested (:

A bit sad to see some people I have met over the years have removed their accounts, also lost some reviews because of that. Since covid I also haven't used Couchsurfing anymore as I noticed after it was a lot quieter on here in the areas I was finding myself in. I was also mostly traveling for work, stayed with friends, or just planned travels, but as of recently I have renewed my account, super excited to use it again to meet people all around the world :D

I love going on adventures, especially when it is an adventure most people don't want to go on. Like going on nighthikes or climbing rooftops of theater buildings. I love the random stuff in life! It makes me very happy to share these experiences with others who are either a) like-minded or b) different. Both make up for a great time and create good memories.

I love this planet and all life that's on it, which is why I made the decision to be vegan. Meaning I do not eat any animal products ever. It is something I am passionate about, but I don't bring it up in conversation unless you ask about it. :) To each their own, you'll find no judgement from me. So you can eat whatever you want in my presence, I really don't mind, so no need to feel awkward about it :D

Ps. If you know of any places in Indonesia that are looking for volunteers with wildlife or people-focused, feel free to shoot me a message!

我为什么加入 Couchsurfing

I love travelling, meeting new people and getting to learn about their lives. For me, it's the conversations I have and the experiences I share with others while travelling that I remember the most vividly.
My goal is to understand the world better and that can only truly be done by going places and sharing experiences with locals - true cultural exhange.

Aside of attending great Couchsurf meet ups and hikes, I've had the joy to be hosted in various countries by truly lovely people. My first time was in Prague, Czechia, way back in 2017! I've since then Couchsurfed in Ouarzazate (Morocco), the United States (Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Portland), Canada (Vancouver), Belgium (Gent, Antwerp, and Brussels), France (Paris), Turkey (Istanbul, Antalya), Singapore, and China (Shenzhen, Guiyang, Chongqing, Chengdu). Sometimes by myself, sometimes with friend(s), sometimes with other Couchsurfers, sometimes with my partner Baha. Loved it all so much! Thank you to anyone who hosts! I look forward to return the favour later when I have my own house!

兴趣

Enjoy life, have fun, go on silly adventures: always in the pursuit of happiness and discovery of new things (including looking at known things with a new perspective)

• animals
• photography
• vegan
• yoga
• meditation
• board games
• reading
• music
• country music
• hiking
• backpacking
• camping
• badminton
• philosophy
• psychology
• ecotourism
• adventure travel
• food
• nature
• sustainability
• stargazing
• biking
• conservation
• roadtrips
• biodiversity
• ecosystems

音乐、电影和书籍

A lot. Too much to name. I also never remember titles (or lyrics or names).
Music wise, I love basically every music style: Indie, pop, reggae, jazz, country etc.
These days I watch a lot of Korean and Chinese romcom or romantic dramas. Also love comedy films

我做过的一件不可思议的事情

* 1 year travel through Asia - doing that right now!
* Solo backpacking through Brazil for 50 days - coincidentally met my partner on this trip, now 6,5 years in the relationship!
* Motorbike loop in the north of Viet Nam, never felt so close to heaven, so ethereal beautiful
* Wrote a book "Fading Hoofprints" by photographer Minh Dan Vu
* Attend a wedding in India, this was always something I wanted to experience
* Having friends from all continents in the world
* Camped in the Moroccan dessert
* Study abroad in the United States (Seattle) - 2018
* Traveled around the west coast USA with new found friends for a month (WA - OR - CA - NV - AZ - UT - NV - WA)
* Took a roadtrip with a stranger from Couchsurfing (now friend) through multiple National Parks in the USA
* With the same Couchsurfer I climbed Angel's Landing, covered in snow/ice, wearing only sneakers and no gear despite all warnings from other climbers with gear that decided not to do it themselves. Wouldn't do that again, but gosh good memories
* Nighthiking, cause most adventures end up being more exciting when it's dark :))
* Spontaneously climbing the rooftop of the 5th avenue theater in Seattle in the middle of the night.
* Afterwards 'accidentally' entering through an unofficial entrance below the streets and somehow finding yourself walking throughout a deserted theater building, and then finding a hallway full of Seattle's history. At the end of that hallway were many more deserted hallways connected to a ton of different office buildings surrounding the theater. Still don't understand how we were able to enter all these buildings, but they were some of the fanciest buildings I've ever seen (fun fact, this all happened during a date. Also had to call an ambulance that night for someone who overdosed but that's a less happy story)
* Trek Vale do Pati (Chapada Diamantina, Brazil)
* Sneaked into a hostel late at night with a friend (not what I normally do, but it was that or sleep in the streets of Rio de Janeiro in the early morning hours)
* My first time ever behind the wheel of a car was when stuck in the snow in the middle of nowhere

教，学，和分享

Genuinely appreciate life: that of others and your own.

我可以与沙发主分享些什么

Fun conversations and I could cook (delicious vegan) food for you if you wish! I love sharing meals with people. Can also teach you some Dutch :')

我游览过的国家

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

我居住过的国家

China, Czech Republic, Laos, Netherlands, United States